UCLA perks up, but Oregon State prevails

Oregon State's James Rodgers (8) runs in the winning touchdown against UCLA during the final seconds of the second half Saturday in Corvallis, Ore. GREG WAHL-STEPHENS, AP

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- UCLA's offense came back to life in time to stage a fourth-quarter rally, but Oregon State had the perfect response.

James Rodgers scored on a 17-yard reverse with 1:17 remaining in the fourth quarter to break a tie and lift the Beavers to a 26-19 victory over the Bruins Saturday at Reser Stadium.

Rodgers' touchdown overshadowed two backs-against-the-wall touchdown drives that brought the Bruins back from a 19-3 deficit. Even after Oregon State regained the lead, the Bruins tried for a third such drive but time ran out as they reached the Beavers' 15-yard line.

"It was a tough loss in that our guys really fought to get back in the game," UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel said. "We had some chances to pull off a memorable one."

Oregon State seemed comfortable with its 19-3 lead in the fourth quarter, mostly because the UCLA offense hadn't been much of a threat to that point. The Bruins had only 86 yards of total offense in the first half, and 164 through three quarters. Their only points had come on a 24-yard field goal by Kai Forbath in the third quarter.

Justin Kahut's fourth field goal of the game gave the Beavers their 16-point lead, with 10:10 remaining in the fourth quarter. But Oregon State coach Mike Riley admitted he was still uneasy.

"This has always been a good defensive team," Riley said of the Bruins. "If you don't capitalize and you're kicking field goals and you're leaving them not far behind, then in a couple of plays they're right there."

He was right.

The Bruins soon scored on a 70-yard drive that took only three plays in 1 minute, 23 seconds. Kevin Prince fired a 58-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Rosario, with 8:39 remaining, cutting the Beavers' lead to 19-9. The duo connected for the two-point conversion, turning the contest into a one-possession game.

The Bruins got the ball back after a three-and-out series by Oregon State, and thought they scored the potential game-tying touchdown when Terrence Austin returned the punt 90 yards for a touchdown. A penalty, however, forced the Bruins to take the ball at their own 7.

Prince revved up the offense again, and this time took a more sustained drive. The Bruins hit a snag at their own 36 and punted the ball, but the Beavers had too many players on the field. The penalty gave the ball back to UCLA, plus 15 yards, and the Bruins took advantage of it.

Prince completed a 45-yard pass to Rosario, giving the Bruins a first down at the Beavers' 4. On fourth-and-goal from the 7, Prince lobbed a rainbow pass into the end zone where Taylor Embree made the catch. A pass to Johnathan Franklin on the two-point conversion, tied the score at 19 with 2:06 left to play.

Prince completed five of six passes for 137 yards on those two drives.

"People knew we weren't going to run the ball," Prince said. "It was up to me and my receivers to make plays and thankfully the line gave us enough time to do so. I put the ball up and just let them go make plays."

The Beavers' final drive began at their 30 and nearly ended in disaster when quarterback Sean Canfield's first pass hit Bruins cornerback Alterraun Verner in the hands. He couldn't hang on, however, providing the Beavers with a much-needed break.

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